What's Your Health Worth

Massage is too expensive.

I hear different versions of this often. It is always an interesting statement to me.  In some ways, it gets my blood boiling. I like honesty and usually, the statement doesn’t feel honest to me. In most cases, the issue isn’t about the expense. What I hear when someone says this to me is:

“I have other priorities.”

Or maybe: “I don’t see the value in a massage.”

The average price of a massage is $80 for an hour. One massage a month equals less than three dollars a day. Twenty dollars a week. Forty dollars a paycheck every two weeks. A massage is less than the cost of cable television. It’s 1-3 meals out a month depending on a family’s size, grabbing six lunches a month out, buying one energy drink a day, or a Starbucks coffee every other day.

I enjoy my cable and dining out with friends. I’m not judging anyone for valuing these things. I also know that I can’t work as efficiently as possible if I am not taking care of myself. I need self-care. 

If I’m in pain, stressed, or get sick, I don’t get the most out of the rest of my life. 

I go home and climb into bed to recover. I don’t work out as often. 

I avoid hanging out with friends. I get grumpy. Tired. 

Maybe even a little depressed.

I also hear parents tell me they feel guilty because they feel like they are taking money away from their children. What’s the worth of being more present with your loved ones because you aren’t distracted by pain or stress? Personally, I’ve found that kids get money and choices and priorities if you have a conversation with them about it. 

I think it’s ok to say: “We are going to eat at home tonight.  Mommy/Daddy needs a massage so she can play with you more.”

What is the value of being able to work out and be more healthful? Or being able to move pain-free? What would you pay to get that reoccurring headache to not come back? What is your health and well-being worth?

Part of incorporating massage into your wellness plan is making it a priority.  You have to decide that massage has value and that not spending sixty dollars a month is what’s not worth it.

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Blog 2 of 20 in the February Challenge